Lewis Williamson, Dean Smith and Alexander Sims flew the flag for Britain at Silverstone on Sunday, 10th July, by locking out the GP3 Series podium – a proud moment for Manor Competition with all three drivers having graduated from the team’s Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship squad.

Scottish star Williamson won the eighth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship supporting category, his first victory in GP3, with Manor’s 2009 Formula Renault UK Champion Smith finishing in second place and new GP3 points leader Sims racing through superbly to third place.

Underlining once again the tremendous driver development provided by New Ollerton-based Manor Competition, team owners Tony and Sarah Shaw are absolutely delighted to see the ultra-talented British trio doing so well on the international stage.

“We’re absolutely over the moon to have seen Lewis, Dean and Alexander locking out the podium on Sunday at Silverstone”, commented Tony.

“They’re all superbly talented drivers and we’re hugely proud to have been part of their careers. Seeing three Manor Competition graduates on the podium on British Grand Prix weekend is a fantastic feeling.

“For us, this shows once again Formula Renault is the best place to learn the skills required to be a success in the higher categories.

“The most talented drivers to have come through our team have all gone on to achieve continued success. That makes us very proud and delighted for each of them.”

Williamson stepped-up to GP3 this season off the back of just missing out on the Formula Renault UK title in 2010.

Ending the year as Vice-Champion, he went on to be crowned the 22nd McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner to follow in the footsteps of both Smith and Sims.

Smith won the 2009 Formula Renault UK Championship after a sensational season in which he faced an uphill challenge having missed the first two rounds.

Going on to win that year’s McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, he moved into GP3 in 2010 and continues this season on a race-by-race basis due to budget difficulties.

Sims took a three point lead in the GP3 standings after a tremendous double podium weekend at Silverstone.

Ending the 2008 Formula Renault UK season as Vice-Champion, and also being named McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner, he went on to compete in the Formula 3 Euroseries for two seasons before stepping into GP3 this year.

In terms of Formula One at Silverstone, Manor’s 2003 Formula Renault UK Champion Lewis Hamilton delivered his usual brand of exciting racing on Sunday and emerged from a tight battle at the finish with Felipe Massa to take fourth place in his home Grand Prix.

Paul Di Resta, who finished third overall in the 2004 Formula Renault UK Championship for Manor, qualified a career-best sixth for his first British Grand Prix but wasn’t able to capitalise on that in a tough race and finished the event in 15th position.

Manor Competition’s current Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship team will be back in on 6th/7th August at Snetterton 300 Circuit in Norfolk.